The State Department rushed to approve Bill Clinton's lucrative speeches while Hillary was in charge

Bill and Hillary Clinton
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — When Hillary Rodham Clinton was secretary of state, her husband won hasty approval from her department to make a lucrative series of speeches to companies, organizations and governments around the world.

A review of records by The Associated Press shows that former President Bill Clinton earned his family nearly $50 million from more than 220 paid events during his wife's tenure at the State Department.

According to the review, the State Department sped through Bill Clinton's steady stream of requests to attend events while rarely raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

For example, officials quickly approved plans for Bill Clinton to address clients of London-based Barclays Bank when it was under investigation for violating international sanctions.

The findings could pose ethical complications during Hillary Clinton's run for president.